Clatsop County Government depends greatly on the selfless dedication of volunteer citizens who devoted over 20,000 hours of time to numerous committees and programs last year alone which the county values at over $463,000. Each year the County Commissioners devote time to recognizing those volunteers and emphasizing their importance during a regular commission meeting. Commission Chair Peter Huhtala said that Wednesday's event has become his favorite meeting of the year.

Out of the 494 people who do volunteer one person is selected to be named Individual Volunteer of The Year and this year the honor went to Debbie Morrow, who was honored for her more than 20 years of advocacy for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill, and service on the boards of a variety of organizations including Women's Resource Center, Coast Rehabilitation Services and Clatsop County Human Services Advisory Council. Morrow was nominated by Public Health Director Margo Lalich, Juvenile Director Janet Evans and Prevention Specialist Jill Quackenbush. Outstanding Advisory Board Members is John Mersereau, who served for 30 years with the Southwest Coastal Citizens Advisory Council, also known as the Arch Cape Design Review Committee. He was nominated by Commissioner Debra Birkby.